In Kenya, respiratory diseases have become a major public health issue, exacerbated by the increasing use of firewood for cooking. Economic challenges have driven more people, especially in rural and low-income urban areas, to rely on biomass fuels, which has significant health repercussions.
Jane Muthoni, a 65-year-old resident, is surrounded by firewood in her makeshift kitchen. Like many others, she suffers from respiratory issues due to prolonged exposure to smoke but feels she has no alternative. “I’ve used firewood all my life,” she says. “Sometimes I cough from inhaling the smoke, and my eyes itch, but there’s nothing I can do about it” .
Respiratory diseases are the most prevalent health issues in Kenya, with 19.6 million cases reported last year. The burning of biomass such as firewood is the largest contributor, according to Evans Amukoye from the Kenya Medical Research Institute’s respiratory diseases research center. Common symptoms include itchy eyes and coughing, with severe cases leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which restricts breathing .
Data from the Ministry of Health indicates that COPD accounts for 1.7% of deaths in Kenya. The disease primarily affects those in low-income areas who have less access to healthcare and are more likely to use traditional cooking fuels .
Economist Abraham Muriu attributes the increased reliance on firewood to economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing inflation. The number of households using firewood rose from 4.7 million in 2020 to 6.7 million in 2022 . In urban areas, the rising costs of living have led many to revert to cheaper, albeit more harmful, cooking methods.
Mercy Letting, a businesswoman in Nairobi, experienced health issues from using charcoal. “I am asthmatic, so whenever I used charcoal to cook, the smoke would always trigger an attack,” she said. She eventually switched to an eco-friendly cooker and an induction burner, which significantly improved her health and reduced her costs .
While companies like BURN Manufacturing are developing cleaner and more efficient cookstoves, affordability remains a significant barrier. Chris McKinney, BURN’s chief commercial officer, emphasized the need for affordable clean cooking solutions to ensure widespread adoption .
The reliance on firewood in Kenya has severe health implications, particularly respiratory diseases, driven by economic constraints. While clean cooking technologies offer a solution, their high cost remains a barrier for many. Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach, including economic support and affordable technology to improve public health outcomes.
